KICKBOXER QUEEN OF JKD Rochelle Ashana
The Martial Arts Actress Who Shared the Screen with Jean-Claude Van Damme
Rochelle Ashana, fresh from filming in Cannes, France, and attending the
Fighting Spirit Film Festival in London, talks to Andrew Staton about
her life, martial arts journey via JKD, Arnis, Kickboxing, and being an
action star and stuntwoman.
For fans of the golden era of martial arts movies, Rochelle Ashana
occupies a fascinating place in action cinema history. Best known
internationally for her role as Mylee in the 1989 martial arts classic
Kickboxer Ashana appeared opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme at a pivotal
moment in the Belgian star's career. The film helped establish Van Damme
as one of the defining action heroes of the late 1980s and early 1990s,
while Ashana became part of one of the period's most memorable martial
arts casts.
Born Maria Rochelle Mendoza on September 24, 1960, in San Francisco
County, California, Ashana came from a Filipino family. Her background
was not originally rooted solely in the movie business. She studied art
and design at UCLA, graduating before moving to Maui, Hawaii, where she
developed a career in photography. This artistic background would remain
an important part of her life alongside acting and martial arts.
Ashana's route into entertainment developed during a particularly
exciting period for action cinema. The success of Bruce Lee in the 1970s
had created a worldwide appetite for martial arts movies, while the
1980s saw Hollywood increasingly combine Asian fighting disciplines with
American action-film storytelling. By the time Kickboxer arrived in
1989, the genre was ready for a new generation of stars.
That generation included Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Kickboxer
Directed by Mark DiSalle and David Worth, Kickboxer was built around the
physical abilities and screen presence of Van Damme. He played Kurt
Sloane, a martial artist whose brother Eric is brutally injured during a
confrontation with Thai champion Tong Po, played by Michel Qissi. Kurt
subsequently travels to Thailand, where he begins an intensive training
regimen before seeking revenge.
Rochelle Ashana played Mylee, becoming one of the film's important
supporting characters. Her association with Van Damme places her
directly within one of the landmark productions of the martial arts
boom. The American Film Institute's catalogue confirms Ashana's credit
as Mylee in the 1989 film, while the film's full cast records place her
alongside Van Damme, Dennis Alexio, Dennis Chan, Michel Qissi and
Haskell V. Anderson III.
More Than Just Kickboxer
Although Kickboxer remains Ashana's best-known film, it was not her only
connection with genre cinema. Her screen career included appearances in
productions such as The A-Team, Hooperman, Fright Night Part 2, 227,
The Sword of Bushido, Fear of a Black Hat and Carjack.
Her involvement with action and genre productions continued beyond
conventional acting. Ashana also received stunt credits, including work
on John Carpenter's Escape from L.A. and the 1998 comic-book action
movie Blade, demonstrating that her relationship with physical and
action-oriented filmmaking extended beyond her most famous role. She
continues to work across action films around the world.
Her career is particularly interesting because she sits at the
intersection of several different worlds: acting, martial arts, stunt
work, photography and visual arts.
A Lasting Place in Martial Arts Movie History, Martial Arts and Action
Cinema
Ashana's association with martial arts was not simply a matter of being
cast in a martial arts movie. She trained in Jeet Kune Do and Escrima,
reflecting the broader martial arts culture that surrounded the American
action-film industry during this period.
That environment was changing rapidly. Martial arts performers were
increasingly expected to bring authenticity, physical confidence, and
athletic ability to productions rather than simply playing characters
who happened to be involved in fights. The audience wanted to believe
that the performers could actually fight.
Ashana's career alongside performers such as Van Damme therefore belongs
to an era when martial arts and action cinema were becoming
increasingly intertwined.
Fighting Spirit Film Festival celebrates martial arts cinema as
entertainment and inspiration, promotes martial arts culture, and
recognises, connects, and supports those who have chosen it as a career.
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